Failure analysis on welded joints of 347H austenitic boiler tubes

Microstructural and thermo-mechanical analyses using the finite element method (FEM) were performed on the welded joint of 347H boiler tubes in a coal-fired power plant after 3600 h of operation. The cracks in the failed tube started on the inner surface of the heat-affected zone (HAZ). This area had a high hardness value and volume fraction of strain-induced martensite. The plastic deformation around the crack was concentrated near the grain boundaries. This failure occurred as the stabilizing effect disappeared due to carbide dissolution in the heat-affected zone, and plastic deformation and tensile residual stress were formed at the inner side due to the solidification contraction of the outer bead.     

Flexural behaviour of RC slabs strengthened with prestressed CFRP strips using different anchorage systems

The Externally Bonded Reinforcement (EBR) technique using Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) has been commonly used to strengthen concrete structures in flexure. The use of prestressed CFRP material offers several advantages well-reported in the literature. Regardless of such as benefits, several studies on different topics are missing. The present work intends to contribute to the knowledge of two commercially available systems that differ on the type of anchorage: (i) the Mechanical Anchorage (MA), and (ii) the Gradient Anchorage (GA). For that purpose, an experimental program was carried out with twelve slabs monotonically tested under displacement control up to failure by using a four-point bending test configuration. The effect of type of anchorage system (MA and GA), prestrain level (0 and 0.4%), width (50 mm and 80 mm) and thickness (1.2 mm and 1.4 mm) of the CFRP laminate, and the surface preparation (grinded and sandblasted) on the flexural response were the main studied parameters. Better performance was observed for the slabs: (i) with prestressed laminates, (ii) for the MA system, and (iii) with sandblasted surface preparation.     

Study on maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic array in irregular shadow

Traditional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods can hardly find global maximum power point (MPP) because output characteristics curve of photovoltaic (PV) array may have multi local maximum power points in irregular shadow, and thus easily fall into the local maximum power point. To address this drawback, Considering that sliding mode variable structure (SMVS) control strategy have such advantages as simple structure, fast response and strong robustness, and P&O method have the advantages of simple principle and convenient implementation, so a new algorithm combining SMVS control method and P&O method is proposed, besides, PI controller is applied to reduce system chattering caused by switching sliding surface. It is applied to MPPT control of PV array in irregular shadow to solve the problem of multi-peak optimization in partial shadow. In order to verity the rationality of the proposed algorithm, the experimental circuit is built, which achieves MPPT control by means of the proposed algorithm and P&O method. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional P&O algorithm, the proposed algorithm can fast track the global MPP, tracking speed increases by 60% and the relative error decreased by 20%. Moreover, the system becomes more stable near the MPP, the fluctuations of output power is greatly reduced, and thus make full use of solar energy.     

Machine-learning paradigms for selecting ecologically significant input variables

Harmful algal blooms, which are considered a serious environmental problem nowadays, occur in coastal waters in many parts of the world. They cause acute ecological damage and ensuing economic losses, due to fish kills and shellfish poisoning as well as public health threats posed by toxic blooms. Recently, data-driven models including machine-learning (ML) techniques have been employed to mimic dynamics of algal blooms. One of the most important steps in the application of a ML technique is the selection of significant model input variables. In the present paper, we use two extensively used ML techniques, artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic programming (GP) for selecting the significant input variables. The efficacy of these techniques is first demonstrated on a test problem with known dependence and then they are applied to a real-world case study of water quality data from Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong. These ML techniques overcome some of the limitations of the currently used techniques for input variable selection, a review of which is also presented. The interpretation of the weights of the trained ANN and the GP evolved equations demonstrate their ability to identify the ecologically significant variables precisely. The significant variables suggested by the ML techniques also indicate chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) itself to be the most significant input in predicting the algal blooms, suggesting an auto-regressive nature or persistence in the algal bloom dynamics, which may be related to the long flushing time in the semi-enclosed coastal waters. The study also confirms the previous understanding that the algal blooms in coastal waters of Hong Kong often occur with a life cycle of the order of 1–2 weeks.     

Evaluating Particle Deposition in the Artificial Groundwater Recharge Process by Physical and CT Imaging Experiments

Particle clogging in the artificial groundwater recharge process is one of the main factors influencing the artificial groundwater recharge efficiency, and particle deposition is the microscopic mechanism of the occurrence and development of particle clogging. Particle deposition in porous media changes the pore structure. The computed tomography (CT) scanning technique is a nondestructive testing method and determines the spatial distribution of pores in porous media. This study combines physical and CT scanning experiments to identify the change process of the pore structure in the artificial groundwater recharge process and compares the pore changes during recharge experiments between two columns containing different media. Porous media changes are observed with the CT scanning technique. The fractal theory is applied in the analysis of CT scan images and physical experiment results. The results of this study indicate that particle deposition can be examined by using CT scan images to obtain pore-related parameters, the internal pore structure of porous media determined through CT scan images can be applied in numerical simulation, and a mathematical model for particle deposition calculation in porous media is established. Compared to the physical experiment measurements, the spatial particle deposition information acquired with the CT scanning technique exhibits a higher accuracy and contains much more relevant data. Not only does this research reveal more clearly the particle clogging mechanism which is based on particle deposition, but also characterize, simulate and predict more accurately the development tendency of particle clogging during artificial groundwater recharge.

     

洞庭湖区三口水系生态基流研究

近年来大型水利工程的建设与运行、洞庭湖区三口水系分流量的持续减少和三口水系地区水资源的不合理利用,导致三口水系的生态流量严重不足。基于洞庭湖区三口水系的主要水文站2003—2018年逐日平均流量和1973—2002年逐月平均流量数据,提出一种综合考虑不同水文学法的生态基流确定方法,得出逐月和全年的生态基流推荐值,并分析其保证率和影响因素。结果表明:新江口站、沙道观站、弥陀寺站、康家岗站和管家铺站的全年生态基流分别为208.18、49.44、75.39、2.52、93.94 m³/s,全年生态基流保证率分别为84.83%、37.52%、51.88%、21.84%、42.60%;各水文站汛期的生态基流最高值均出现在7月份,8月份、9月份和6月份依次递减,汛期的生态基流及其保证率明显高于非汛期。研究提出的方法和计算结果可为洞庭湖区三口水系的水生态修复提供参考。     

基于多尺度自回归模型体系的混凝土坝位移预报及工程应用

针对混凝土坝位移监测数据的时频非线性特征严重影响到数值模型预报精度的难题,通过小波技术解析原型数据中多重交叉环境驱动的效应实况,有机结合非线性自回归模型(Nonlinear Autoregressive Model with Exogenous Input, NARX)和差分整合移动平均自回归模型(Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model, ARIMA),建立了多尺度组合机制下的自回归模型体系,解决了内蕴复杂混沌特性的监测序列的信息挖掘难点。工程实例分析表明,所建模型的拟合精度及预测能力均得以提升,相比于传统模型具有较好的抗噪性和鲁棒性。此外,所建立的计算模型经一定的优化和拓展,亦可推广应用于其它水工建筑物的效应预报分析。     

含缺陷岩样三轴压缩变形破坏过程颗粒流模拟

为了研究岩桥倾角α对岩石力学行为和裂纹扩展机制的影响,采用PFC3D程序中的颗粒平行黏结模型,通过“试错法”获得一组能够反映完整花岗岩宏观力学特性的细观参数,并建立不同α下微孔洞与平行裂隙①、②组合的数值模型,对三轴压缩中岩样变形破坏过程进行了模拟分析。结果表明:α对起裂强度与峰值强度的比值未见显著的影响;当α=0°和75°时,裂纹扩展模式相似,裂隙①、②内外尖端均产生翼型裂纹,随后与微孔洞贯通;当α=15°、30°和90°时,裂纹的扩展模式比较接近,裂隙①、②内外尖端也可见翼型裂纹;当α=45°、60°时,裂纹呈类似方式扩展,裂隙①、②与微孔洞之间在剪切面上出现裂纹贯通,且在裂隙①、②外尖端有剪切裂纹,此时平行裂隙和微孔洞在剪切面上;剪切裂纹远多于拉伸裂纹,且微裂纹是从初始损伤部位开始扩展的。